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| India police charge toddler with 'theft and trespassing' | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Police in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh have been left red-faced after charging a toddler with theft. | Police in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh have been left red-faced after charging a toddler with theft. |
| Two-year-old Ravi had been named in a police complaint along with three men, one of whom was his relative. | Two-year-old Ravi had been named in a police complaint along with three men, one of whom was his relative. |
| Police attempted to arrest the toddler on Tuesday - causing his alarmed father to take Ravi to the district court, where he explained the situation to senior police officers, reports said. | Police attempted to arrest the toddler on Tuesday - causing his alarmed father to take Ravi to the district court, where he explained the situation to senior police officers, reports said. |
| Ravi's name was taken off the complaint after the senior officers intervened. | Ravi's name was taken off the complaint after the senior officers intervened. |
| A theft had been reported from Bajehra village in Sitapur district on 20 September, police said. | A theft had been reported from Bajehra village in Sitapur district on 20 September, police said. |
| On the basis of a complaint by the victim and other villagers, police registered a case against four men, including the boy, the Press Trust of India reported. | On the basis of a complaint by the victim and other villagers, police registered a case against four men, including the boy, the Press Trust of India reported. |
| All four were accused of "theft", "trespassing at night" and "dishonestly receiving stolen property". It is not clear why Ravi's name was included in the initial complaint. | All four were accused of "theft", "trespassing at night" and "dishonestly receiving stolen property". It is not clear why Ravi's name was included in the initial complaint. |
| The three accused adults have already been arrested and lodged in jail. | The three accused adults have already been arrested and lodged in jail. |
| Under Indian law, police cannot file a criminal case against a child below seven years of age, but there have been several instances in the past when police have done so. | Under Indian law, police cannot file a criminal case against a child below seven years of age, but there have been several instances in the past when police have done so. |
| Last year, two policemen were suspended for charging a one-year-old child with "coercion" ahead of a by-election, also in the state of Uttar Pradesh. | Last year, two policemen were suspended for charging a one-year-old child with "coercion" ahead of a by-election, also in the state of Uttar Pradesh. |
| In 2011, a five-year-old boy in Bihar state was charged with disrupting the peace during village council elections. Police later said it was a case of mistaken identity and they meant to charge his elder brother with disorderly conduct. | In 2011, a five-year-old boy in Bihar state was charged with disrupting the peace during village council elections. Police later said it was a case of mistaken identity and they meant to charge his elder brother with disorderly conduct. |
| In 2006, the Bihar police charged a six-year-old girl with attacking them and helping her father escape from police custody. | In 2006, the Bihar police charged a six-year-old girl with attacking them and helping her father escape from police custody. |
| And in neighbouring Pakistan, a nine-month-old boy was accused of planning a murder, threatening police and interfering in state affairs. | And in neighbouring Pakistan, a nine-month-old boy was accused of planning a murder, threatening police and interfering in state affairs. |